What is trench mouth?

Trench mouth (necrotizing ulcerative gingivostomatitis) is a severe inflammation of mouth tissues. The gums are usually most affected. Symptoms of trench mouth may include:

• Open sores in the mouth that ooze pus
• Bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Trench mouth is caused by a bacterial infection. It commonly affects young adults who are under stress (such as college students during final exams). People who smoke or use smokeless tobacco or who have chronic medical conditions are also more likely to develop trench mouth. Trench mouth is treated with antibiotic medicine.